Foe

By: Iain Reid

Narrated by: Jacques Roy

Length: 5 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's Summary

A taut, psychological mind bender from the best-selling author of I’m Thinking of Ending Things.

We don’t get visitors. Not out here. We never have. 

In Iain Reid’s second haunting, philosophical puzzle of a novel, set in the near future, Junior and Henrietta live a comfortable, solitary life on their farm, far from the city lights, but in close quarters with each other. One day, a stranger from the city arrives with alarming news: Junior has been randomly selected to travel far away from the farm...very far away. The most unusual part? Arrangements have already been made so that when he leaves, Henrietta won't have a chance to miss him, because she won't be left alone - not even for a moment. Henrietta will have company. Familiar company.  

Told in Reid’s sharp and evocative style, Foe examines the nature of domestic relationships, self-determination, and what it means to be (or not to be) a person. An eerily entrancing pause-resister, it churns with unease and suspense from the first words to its shocking finale.

©2018 Iain Reid (P)2018 Simon & Schuster

Quickly becoming a favourite author

I picked up Iain Reid's first book, I'm thinking of ending things, on a whim and was immediately entranced and enthralled by his writing style, as well as how effectively he uses the trope of an "unreliable narrator". As soon as I realized he had written a second novel, I picked it up without a second thought and dove in.

Admittedly, I'm not as impressed by this as I was by his debut. I was floored by his first novel, despite having accidently spoiled it for myself not long after starting. Knowing I would have to be careful about that this time around, I didn't even read the synopsis before starting this one. Unfortunately for me, I worked out the gist of what was happening pretty soon. That being said, I was still wholeheartedly invested in discovering the "why" of this story, which I think was explored in reasonable depth. Much is left up to the reader to decipher and interpret, which is also quite the breath of fresh air in the modern horror medium.

I am eagerly anticipating Reid's next release, as I'm sure it will be just as incredible!

1 person found this helpful

A bit Eerie

Quick book concerning life and relationships in an isolated setting. I had my suspicions about the ending after about half the book but still interest enough to find out if I was right.

1 person found this helpful

Black Mirror-esque

As a fan of I’m Thinking or Ending Things, this book also has stuck in my mind since I finished it.
This novel reminds me of a Black Mirror episode. If you like Black Mirror, you’ll probably enjoy the book. I really enjoyed the narrator, especially his voice for Terrance!

Boring as shit.

I loved "I'm thinking of ending things". But Foe was boring as shit... I am disappointed.

The “Foe” and fake reviews

It is beyond belief that this book received four stars or five stars from anyone. The only conclusion one can make is that the reviews which appear with the book title are completely fake, and only by digging do you find any honest reviews. Well, here’s an honest review: Do not buy this book. Not only is it a complete bore, but the ending is quite the opposite of the fantastic ending that you would be led to believe when reading other reviews. It is simple and it is unexpected only in that you expect there to be some sort of substance to the book and there is none. Today, an author needs only to become famous in order to produce a load of crap and to have that load of crap get four or five stars through the crooked process of the online world. Everyone makes money; the publisher, the author, and Amazon. The real Foe Is this current system of fake review. Please, save your money. This book is terrible.

10 people found this helpful

An excellent, thought-provoking listen

I loved Reid's first novel so I approached Foe with a slight sense of trepidation and high expectations. My worries were unnecessary. Foe is superb, a tautly-written book in which the reader is always on slightly shaky ground. The novel's focus is narrow so the rules and reality of it's near-future setting are often implied but never crystal clear. That's entirely intentional and immensely effective. It's best to go into this story knowing next to nothing about the plot. Pay attention and you will be rewarded.

Reid is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. I can't wait for his next effort.

Foe

Let me start by saying i thoroughly enjoyed this book. it is slow paced by very well done. Its the story of junior and his wife Henrietta. A man named Terrence comes to they're house one night and tells Junior he's been selected to go on a space station. Also tells him he'll have a replication to replace him while hes gone. I figured out what was going on about 3/4 of the way through but then even delightfully surprised me in the end. I found the performance enjoyable and the voice somewhat soothing. I listen to books or podcast as I go to bed and dozed off a few times. which is credit to the smooth voice.

A real page turner

As with his first book, I could not put this Iain Reid page turner down. In his generally short novels (thus far), Iain provides incredibly intuitive insight into his central characters psyche. There is a constant tension and uncertainty as well as a remarkable sense of place, somehow conveyed without providing detailed specifics about exactly where or when we are. I savored every page. #addicting #pageturner #suspenseful #tagsgiving #sweepstakes